Author Archives: admin

About admin

Home stager and interior decorator in northern NJ since 2010. Certificate in interior design from Bergen Community College, graduate of staged homes.com course and Color with No Regrets class through the Decorating and Staging Academy. Specialities are vacant homes and occupied home staging consultations as well as design and color consultations.

Bad Reasons NOT to Stage!

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I hear many of these reasons/excuses why sellers don’t want to spend $$ on staging.
None of them actually make good sense! Thanks to Janet Jones of just-your-style interiors in Maui, Hawaii for sharing!

10 REASONS NOT TO STAGE YOUR HOME

1. We want to test the market for 90 days. And on the 91st day? Price reduction–and 90 days worth of potential buyers who have already eliminated your property.
2. It costs too much money. I have never seen a home where the staging costs would have exceeded the first price reduction. And that doesn’t even factor in the monthly carrying cost of the home.
3. We can’t stage the house, we’re living in it. One common misconception is that staging is only for vacant homes. Every home/condo can be staged, and you can actually live in it after staging.
4. We didn’t have to stage any of the other properties we sold over the years. Yes, once upon a time you could generate three offers by 5 p.m. on the same day your Realtor put the For Sale sign in your yard. Not now. Buyers are picky and they have a lot of homes to choose from.
5. Everyone loves our house so buyers will love it, too. What you, your friends and relatives love about your house may not be what today’s buyer wants. Sellers are often baffled by the feedback they get after showings–amazed that buyers have found things they don’t like about the property.
6. We can clean the carpets and declutter without someone telling us how. Yes, you can (and should) do this, but it is a tiny piece of staging. Do you know what separates “clutter” from “asset”? And what about all the other things that staging encompasses, like traffic flows, highlighting architectural features, updating, and appealing to your target market?
7. We have no desire to remove/change our _______________ (wallpaper/mirrored tile/gold faucets/paneling/dated light fixtures . . .). And neither do buyers. Better to keep your home or be ready to sell at a deep discount.
8. The view alone will sell this place. Then why many months later are these great view homes/condos still on the market? Could it be that buyers want something to go with the view–like a comfortable, move-in ready home?
9. We would rather let the buyers makes their own paint/flooring choices. And that equals a price reduction. If buyers do make an offer on your home they will double or triple the cost of these items and reflect that in their discounted offer price–which includes a deduction for the inconvenience.
10. Our home is professionally decorated. A professionally decorated home is tailored to the owner’s particular needs. Does it work for the new buyer’s needs? You could see #1 above . . . .
These are all great reasons–
• for price reductions
• for extended time on the market
• for buyers not coming to look at your home
• for buyers not coming back for a second look
There are dozens of reasons not to stage, but only one good reason to stage–getting your home sold faster for the highest possible price. Staging is preparing your home for sale and creating a home that buyers want to buy. If you want to be in the best competitive position in this market today, consult with a professional home stager before listing your property for sale.

Wall Color Makes A Difference, Staging or Decorating!

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In this home, just changing the color on the walls from dark red to light gold grasscloth wallpaper made a big difference! This room only has light on the northeast side from French doors into a sunroom, so the red made the room cozy but dark, especially considering the beamed ceiling. The homeowner also lightened and brightened this room with new recessed lights, and we will likely be adding 3 lamps (combo of table and floor) later. Now this room looks more sophisticated and would be more appealing to buyers as well.

Too dark room

Color Lightens Room

Light Gold Grasscloth Brightens Room

Staging and Decorating For the Holidays

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We all want some sparkle and warmth in our homes for the holidays and to brighten up the dark days of December. Just keep the Christmas theme toned down and opt for fresh (or faux) greens plus one or two colors mixed in — red, silver, or gold are perfect — for a shimmery, high-end look. Those colors can be in the form of candles, placemats, runners, (stay away from tablecloths and show off the wood or glass of a beautiful table instead), berries, glittery “dusted” pinecones, or floral centerpieces. Keep the “cutesy” Christmas decorations (like giant nutcrackers, dolls, signs) packed away when you’re trying to sell your home, because those items can be overkill and distract from the selling points of your house. A little goes a long way in decorating for a holiday that is not universal, and you want to be careful to not turn off buyers who celebrate other holidays.
More and brighter lights are particularly welcome at this time of year to counteract the longer nights and colder days in most parts of the country. White outdoor lights are a great, classic choice for bushes and doorways, as is a white spotlight on a front door with or without a wreath.

Re-Use, Re-Fresh with One-Day Makeovers

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If you’re looking for an inexpensive and easy way to refresh and revive your home to make the most of your space, a one-day makeover is a great solution! First, I’ll interview you by phone about your goals, style, favorite colors, and anything that bugs you about your space, and then make an appointment to come see your house and assess it in person. Depending on what we discuss and decide about your space, I will give you a list of suggestions such as new paint colors or adding crown moldings, new drapes, slip-covers, bedding, etc., and/or I can start re-arranging furniture, art, accessories, rugs, etc. right on the spot to make your home “feel” better. This is a great, inexpensive option that typically costs less than a nice weekend away and results in a house you’ll be happy to show off AND come home to!

 

Staging Should be Classy, Not Corny!

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Staging a house successfully involves creating the lifestyle that buyers aspire to . . . minus the overdone, cutesy or corny touches that scream “I’ve been staged! or worse “give me a break.”
Staging “don’ts” include:
* rose petals floating in bathtubs or strewn on a bed — talk about forcing a romantic cliche!
* towels or curtains tied with ribbons
* fake “love” notes left on tables or beds
* champagne glasses on trays on beds
* cute collections of stuffed animals, ceramic animals, bird houses, or pretty much anything! The point of staging is to AVOID clutter and personalized taste.
* slippers placed by beds or chaises to imply relaxation — I don’t think footwear of any type appeals to most buyers
* any kind of wreaths — except tasteful ones on Christmas — on doors or on walls
* scarecrows/dolls/ducks/figurines/statues, etc. posed anywhere inside or out
* outdated “dream,” “imagine,” heart signs, or cute/funny signs of any type — including “Go Away” welcome mats
* scarves used as valances or draped on bureaus
* tablecloths — they’re old-school. Use more elegant runners instead, or in a kitchen, show off the beauty of the wood or glass table and keep it simple and clean-looking!
* a sea of candles and/or decorative pillows in bathrooms and bedrooms — less is more!
* miniature or small-sized decorative items of any kind — they always look like clutter instead of decor that has true impact
Keep your eye on the goal: luxury, not tackiness!

Does Your House Leave Buyers Feeling “Cold”?

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I’ve seen too many modern houses — and some not-so-modern — that are painted all-white, have loads of white cabinets, white ceramic floors, and the only other colors tend to be stark black cabinets or furniture, or pink-veined countertops or bathroom tile. While neutralizing colors can be a very good thing, when you go the other direction with huge expanses of stark white walls and floors, the effect leaves most buyers out in the cold. In this case, I recommend warming up a few select rooms, such as the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom, with warm or cool tones chosen to coordinate with any other existing colors or features (brick or stone fireplace walls, for instance) or furniture. Beiges, gray-greens, toned-down soft yellows, or the currently popular pale gray colors often work well, depending on other elements in the room. Part of my role as a stager is to bring fan decks and help you, the seller, choose the “right” colors that appeal to buyers and work in your home and lighting.
Warmth can also be increased with the right lighting choices, as well as adding colorful textiles, such as area rugs and accent pieces, including pillows, throws, florals, vases, candles and holders, and other decorative items, which I can purchase for you, with you, or you can rent from my inventory on a monthly basis.
Here’s to creating a warm, inviting home that makes buyers feel at home!

Get More Money When You Sell

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Sellers who invest even just a few hundred dollars in getting their homes staged and prepared for the market typically get back at least 4-5 times that investment in a higher sales price. As in most areas of life, it takes money to make money! Of course, repairs, deferred maintenance, and cleaning and painting must be done for staging to make sense. If there’s truly not enough money in the budget to do both, repairs and cleaning take precedence.
That being said, staging is “visual merchandising” of your home and you must emotionally detach from your home in order to prepare it as a product for sale that will appeal to the most buyers. I’m happy to explain to homeowners about WHY I move or remove furniture, change out artwork and accessories, update bedding and pillows, etc. — it’s not about how you live when it’s time to sell, it’s about how your home should look to help grab buyers’ attention in a positive way. The better your house looks, the more interest it will generate from buyers and agents, and the more offers it will bring in — as long as the price is in line with comparable properties. Your agent will do that research and can guide you to set the right price — in this market, setting a high price almost always backfires to your home sitting months, even years, on the market. It’s better to set the price right at market price — or even slightly lower — right at the start of listing in order to stir up huge interest and possibly a bidding war.
Presentation and price always go hand-in-hand in a down market.

Look Before You Leap into Listing: Get A Consult!

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Many sellers invest time, money and energy into the wrong improvements and changes in their homes before listing — or worse, they don’t do anything to improve their home’s visual marketing before listing. You only have a short window of time to grab buyers’ attention — the first two weeks of the listing period is the “honeymoon” period. After that, the excitement and number of visits start to peter down.
Hiring a stager to do an inexpensive consult will put you on the right track before your home hits the market — usually for less than $200. You’ll get on-target advice that covers everything from curb appeal to outdoor entertainment spaces (and every backyard should be staged to look like an entertainment zone), to how to make each room look as appealing as possible. How you live now almost never matches how your home should look to sell.
Stagers know ideal furniture arrangements, what to replace, what needs updating, what needs to go into storage to free up space, how to handle window treatments to get the maximum lightness and brightness in your home, what cosmetic changes to make, what repairs need to be made, what paint colors need to be changed. We can suggest how to re-use much of what you already have in your home in different and better ways to create the lifestyle ambience buyers dream about!
Consults generally take only 1.5 hours, and give do-it-yourselfers maximum return on a small cost. Remember that buyers want move-in ready properties, and if the MLS photos of your house aren’t their absolute best, most buyers won’t even want to look at your house! Don’t let your home become one of the many that sit on the market for months or years because the seller didn’t bother to consider how their home looks to potential buyers. Invest a little to get a lot of money back in a higher price and quicker sale!

Make Your Lighting Shine!

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A common problem I see in clients’ homes is outdated lighting, both on the exterior front and inside. Updating your lighting makes a big difference in how your home looks, whether for selling or staying. Ceiling fan lights are prevalent in 80% of the homes I see, and although I don’t have a problem with them if they reflect current styles — dark blades, contemporary, sleek, simple shades — I always seem to run into the “blonde” ones with the elaborate, fluted shades that are straight out of the 80s. If you haven’t changed out your lights in 15 or 20 years, it’s time to think about doing so, especially if you’re selling. Semi-flush lights are generally more stylish than flush dome lights these days. Avoid brass finishes and go for black or bronzed “iron” looks, chrome or matte nickel finishes instead.
New, attractive ceiling lights can be purchased for anywhere from around $25 to hundreds of dollars (try Bellacor Pro online to check out a huge selection).
Replace Colonial style chandeliers with contemporary drum styles, elegant beaded styles, traditional classic shaded lamp chandeliers, or Mediterranean looks instead. Fit the chandelier to your dining room furniture and, to a lesser degree, house style. Don’t forget to upgrade wall sconces as well, again eliminating any Colonial bare bulb looks.
Another major lighting faux pas that I see very often is the movie-star bare bulb look around vanity mirrors. That look dates any bathroom by several decades. It can be easily updated with simple frosted down-light sconces (check out Restoration Hardware for some classic looks). If you have fluorescent “box” lights in your kitchen, upgrade to either recessed lights or small track lights on curved chrome tracks. Be sure to use the maximum wattage bulbs allowed for your fixture to make your house look light and bright to buyers.

Landscaping For Maximum Curb Appeal

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Now that spring has FINALLY (!!) arrived in North Jersey, this is the perfect time to spruce up your front, side, and backyards — including patios and decks — to improve curb appeal and maximize your selling price. A beautifully landscaped yard goes a long way towards creating outdoor ambience and a lifestyle that buyers want. The easiest and cheapest way to upgrade the look of your front entrance is with LARGE potted plants, using annuals for color that will last all summer. If the front steps or landing are small, one pot or large hanging plant will work fine. For added punch, use flowers that match a colorful front door — like purple pansies or red petunias or geraniums. Don’t forget to consider the amount of sun that the plants will need, since many front entryways tend to be shady. A good option besides impatiens or begonias are New Guinea impatiens or red ferns.
If you have a front light post or a “lemonade” front porch, dress them up by hanging one or two flowering plants (don’t overdo it).
An inexpensive and easy way to improve the look of any yard and make it look professionally landscaped is to mulch all flower beds and foundation areas, preferably with dark brown or black shredded mulch.
Dress up a patio or deck with an outdoor table and chairs or at least a bench and a potted palm or plant to show buyers your home’s entertainment potential. Add colorful cushions to make any outdoor area look more summery and inviting. Stow all tools, hoses, and toys out of sight. If you have a grill, make sure it is uncovered and looks clean, ready for grilling.